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Some of us beauty lovers know that there is something magical about makeup and skincare. Another way to think about your beauty routine is to remember that these moments spent treating your skin and applying your makeup is a ritual. Smashbox cosmetics has teamed up with The Hoodwitch to create a crystal inspired collection.

WHo is The HoodWitch?

Of course there is her body of work, thehoodwitch.com. Connect to yourself on a higher frequency with her intuitive guidance through reading her blogs. There are weekly horoscopes she features on a post called “Witch Tips and Horoscopes.”

There is a shop that sells crystals and smudging tools. Definitely better than getting random crystals from companies like Urban Outfitters who are just chasing a buck verses genuinely nourishing your mystical knowledge and power. You can find a Bruja Bookshop as well!

Since so much discovery happens on Instagram, you’ve definitely seen The Hoodwitch’s iconic manicures that landed her a collab with Floss Gloss and a feature on Vogue.com. Even if you don’t run in zodiac or crystal loving circles, you would’ve come across her feed just for the sheer #nailinsp0 #nailenvy Bri Luna is always serving us.

What this collab is NOT:

A tacky bastardization of witchcraft and spirituality. We all remember the disrespectful disaster that The Pinrose Starter Witch Kit was. What is often forgotten when it comes to witchcraft is that for many of it’s followers, it is a religion. And Pinrose missed the memo. They saw a rise in the popularity of crystals and went after it with no regard, or basic research, before they launched this collection.

Because of the history of Pinrose, when I caught wind of the Smashbox collection, the first thing I thought I saw was ‘crystal themed sprays.’ I rolled my eyes and scrolled right past it. I thought, “Oh great, another bastardization of a minority culture that is mocked, misused, and then abused once some celebrity (Kim K) says they are suddenly just sooo into it.” I was ready to ignore it all together. I had just seen like 10 videos on IG of bloggers dunking rose quartz rollers into a jar of some expensive moisturizers and facetiously rubbing it on their faces. But then Pepper texted me a screen shot that showed it is being done with The Hoodwitch! Mood changed!!!

One, she is a practicing witch. Two, I am forever reading her blog. Three, I have purchased two of her sage bundles, one with sunflowers and the other with roses, and I genuinely believe in, and am intimidated by, there power. Finally: she is a woman of color! Yes, that always makes me swell with pride when I see all kinds of minority women getting a spotlight!

More than just my typical fangirling, which you know I always am, this collaboration is clearly well done. Of course, part of me believes that Smashbox is just cashing in on a trend. Colourpop has done crystal sprays, Kim K did a crystal fragrance, Sephora is selling crystal infused eyeshadow palettes, -I literally saw a sage bundle in a Cosmo Mag last summer and thought- this is going to get out of hand. It’s one thing to teach people about this culture and these rituals involving crystals and sage. It’s a whole other thing to steal from a culture. Without including people, like Bri Luna, who put in the work to educate others about their practices. It is irresponsible and offensive.

Bri Luna did an Instagram Live the day of the collection launch and talked about her collab. She was ready with a response to anyone who doubted her validity as a witch for working with a big company like Smashbox.

“…I feel like for all black and brown brujas - when you have that door of opportunity and when people who actually respect your work and they come to you and they hire you to do a proper collaboration, then that is up to you to say ‘you know what, this does feel like an opportunity to share my vision. …You have to know your truth and i think that you can properly collaborate and you can work with these bigger companies when know your integrity…. I was not willing to make a ‘witch kit.’ i was not going to put sage and crystals into a package. … I love crystals, i love minerals, i think that theyre beautiful but am i going to put an endangered plant into a package? No. that’s ridiculous to me. This is my real practice. this is my real life. I worked as a makeup artist for over 5 yrs. i love period makeup. i love history. i love alchemy, i love learning how minerals were used to create some of the first eyeshadows in egypt by using lapis lazuli, … These practices are not trendy. they are not new. This is ancient. these are ancient minerals. These are ancient stones that were created to make makeup. Makeup in itself was always seen as a form of sorcery and enchantment and magic. So I love glamour and that’s kind of why i felt as a Taurus, who is ruled by Venus, I felt very aligned with making a beauty collection. … I feel like everything I do in my life is intentional… So I think that even something as simple as doing makeup, you’re going in with an intention. Makeup allows us to be ourselves. and it allows us to create our own reality. … There is no right or wrong way to do your makeup. There is no right or wrong way to be spiritual… Do not allow yourself to be pinned down with labels. I feel good. I feel confident with what I’ve put into this world with what I’ve co created. I’m just so grateful.

Meet The Crystallized Collection

@Trendmood1 on instagram captured some stunning photos of these products and swatches.

How beautiful are the caps of these liquid eyeshadows!!

Makeup Mantra!

On the lid of each box for this collection, there is a Makeup Mantra. Mantras help you focus your intentions. They can get your mind to focus on the task at hand or the overall goal. By collaborating with Bri Luna, Smashbox is able to bring these practices to people who otherwise might not have learned about it.

This is the crystal that inspired it all! Spirit Quartz

Trendmood1 on IG gave us swatch envy. You can see there is a clear base with the peachy iridescent sheen. Reminds me a Colourpop’s retired Super Shock Cheek Highlighter in Highly Waisted. One of my favorite highlighters!

Photo Finish Crystalized Primerizer

The Hype: “2-in-1 shimmering primer & moisturizer that hydrates & locks on makeup in a super light texture. The rose quartz-inspired shimmer gives your skin a subtle pearl finish that can be worn with makeup or on bare skin” (source)